VOCs & pesticides
Tetrachloroethylene in U.S. tap water
121 public water systems across 11 U.S. states report Tetrachloroethylene in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. 4 sit at or above the federal limit.
What it is
An industrial solvent (PCE) used in dry cleaning and degreasing.
Why it's regulated
A likely human carcinogen; long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the liver and kidneys.
At or above the federal limit (4)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lukins Brothers Water Company — South Lake Tahoe, Ca, CA 2022 annual report | 0–71 ug/L | 14.2× the limit |
| California Domestic Water Company — Whittier, Ca, CA 2021 annual report | 17.7 ug/L | 3.5× the limit |
| California Domestic Water Company — Whittier, Ca, CA 2020 annual report | 16.2 ug/L | 3.2× the limit |
| San Joaquin County-mokelumne Acres — Stockton, Ca, CA 2023 annual report | 0–15.5 ug/L | 3.1× the limit |
Approaching the limit (2)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lynwood Park Mutual Water Co. — Compton, Ca, CA 2020 annual report | 4.4 ug/L | 0.9× the limit |
| Lynwood Park Mutual Water Co. — Compton, Ca, CA 2021 annual report | 4.3 ug/L | 0.9× the limit |
Within the federal limit (111)
Showing 50 of 111. The full list is in the JSON API.
Tetrachloroethylene by state
Every state where a public water system reports Tetrachloroethylene in its annual report, ranked by systems at or above the federal limit.
Frequently asked
+What is Tetrachloroethylene?
An industrial solvent (PCE) used in dry cleaning and degreasing. A likely human carcinogen; long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the liver and kidneys.
+What is the federal limit for Tetrachloroethylene in drinking water?
The federal MCL for Tetrachloroethylene is 5 ug/L. The EPA enforces this against the regulated reporting statistic (typically a running annual average or 90th percentile), not a single-sample spike.
+How many U.S. water systems have Tetrachloroethylene over the federal limit?
4 of the 121 public water systems on The Water Map report Tetrachloroethylene at or above its federal limit, spanning 11 U.S. states. The full list is on this page.
+Which states report the most Tetrachloroethylene in their drinking water?
Of the systems on The Water Map, California (4 systems at or above the limit) report the most Tetrachloroethylene exceedances. The state-by-state table on this page lists every state.
+How can I check if Tetrachloroethylene is in my city's tap water?
Search your city on The Water Map (https://www.thewatermap.com/) or browse the list on this page. Every U.S. public water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report that lists every contaminant it measured, including Tetrachloroethylene.